Biosynthesis of cannabinoids from cannabigerolic acid using novel cannabinoid synthases

Abstract

A method for producing a cannabinoid by contacting cannabigerolic acid with a cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is from an organism other than Cannabis sativa . Also disclosed is a recombinant cell of Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris that includes in its genome a nucleic acid encoding the above cannabinoid synthase orthologue. The cannabinoid synthase orthologue is expressed in the recombinant cell in an active form.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing one or more cannabinoids, the method comprising contacting cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) with a cannabinoid synthase orthologue, wherein the orthologue includes an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 16, 23, 47, 57, 87, 107 and 117 and wherein the cannabinoids produced have a molecular weight of 358.5 g/mol, 374.5 g/mol, or 330.5 g/mol. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannabinoids produced include cannabielsoic acid and cannabielsoin. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannabinoid synthase orthologue is a recombinant enzyme produced in  Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Yarrowia lipolytica, Kluyveromyces marxianus , or  Pichia pastoris.